Automatic gas and electric pressure cooker



Jan 9, 1 51 I l. PAGE 2,537,695

AUTOMATIC GAS AND ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER FiledSept. 2'7, 1945 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR IRVING PAGE ATTORN EY Jan. 9, 1951 PAGE2,537,695

AUTOMATIC GAS AND ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER Filed Sept. 27, 1945 5Sheets-Sheet 2 .F; .5. J INVENTOR hwme PAGE. 69 67 I .96 BY I T .10. l97 i ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1951 1. PAGE 2,537,695

AUTOMATIC GAS AND ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER Filed Sept. 27, 1945 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR IRVING PAGE ATTO RNEZY Patented Jan. 9, 1951 COOKER

Irving Page, New York, .N. Y.

Application September 27, 1945,.SerialNo. 618,850

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pressurecookers, and has more particular reference to an automatic gas andelectric pressure cooker.

More particularly the invention proposes a new and improved pressurecooker or pot which is arranged to "be heated by a gas flame, and by anelectric'winding. Anautomatic arrangement is proposed to control thesupply of gas to the flame "and the supply of electric current to thewinding, so as to turn off the heat when the internal pressure or thepot reaches .a predetermined amount. An arrangement is also proposedwhereby one or both of the heating devices may .be further operated soas to maintain the heat "for a predetermined time to cook those .foods,which require pressure as Well as time. These foods which are cookedquickly'when the predetermined pressure is reached 'are'finished thefirst time that the automatic device works to shut off the heatingdevices.

The invention furthermore contemplates providing the pressure pot with'a safety valve and a'pressure gauge sothat itmaybe safely operated.

Itis also proposed to characterize the new pressure pot "by the factthat it includes a container for a pot and a cover. Clamps are used toclamp the cover in position on the container. It is pro posed'to soarrange the clamps so that they operate to close vent openings formed inthe container and serve to permit the escape of gases while (the coverclamps are being loosened. It is proposed "that the clamps control aswitchwhich controls the circuit with the electric winding.

novel arrangement'is also proposed for cooling the pct 50 that when thecover is removed from the container, the pot is nottoo hot to hehandled.

A novel way is proposed for holding the cover in position on the top'ofthe pot.

Still further the invention proposes a new and improved gas and electricautomatic pressure pot as br iefiy explained, which may be manufacturedarn'zl sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention,

and $01 the "objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had tothe following "description "and accompanying "drawings, and to'theappended claims in "which the "various novel features of the inventionare more particularly set forth.

Inthe accompanyin'gdrawings forming a material partoitliisdisclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a gas and electric automaticpressure pot'cons'tructed in ac cordance with tliis invention.

Fig. 21is a plan view of Fig.1..

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. .3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view looking in thedirection of the line 5'5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5A'is an-enlarged detailed view of a portion Io/of Fig. 5 having"portions thereof broken away to Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional viewtaken on the line"l"l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of'Fig.'3.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed View of the pressure responsive devicewhich operates the automatic control for the gas and electric heatingdevices.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed View of a portion of Fig. 3but disclosing the parts in greater detail.

Fig. 10A is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 10,. but illustrating adifferent position of the parts.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 3,and more specifically the upper right-hand corner thereof.

Fig. 11A is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 11.

Fig. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electric circuit of thedevice.

The new and improved gas and electric automatic pressure pot inaccordance with this invention, includes a container 15 adapted toreceive and hold the pot -16 inwhic'h food may be placed for cooking.The pot I6 has handles it and the container 15 has handles 15. Thecontainer 15 has a horizontal hot'tom spider-like partition 1*! uponwhich the pot It may rest. This partition I! is provided with aprojection it at one point which engagesa complementary groove t9 formedin the ,pot' F6 by which it is possible to position the pct 16 "inidenticalpositions on the partition H. The pot '16 is provided "with acover "2.0 having ahandleZ 0.

The container 15 is provided with a cover 21 having a rim '22 adapted torest upon a rim '23 formed upon the top :0f the container 15. The

rims 22 and 23 have parallel interengaged surfaces 24 for assisting insealing the cover 21 on the container .l5. Clamp means is provided forclamping the cover 21 in position. These clamp means include clamps 26engageable over the rims 22 and 23 and provided with clamp screws 21which may be tightened to tighten the clamps in position on the rims 22and 23 for clamping the cover 2| in position.

Each clamp 26 is provided with a projecting end portion 28, which havesmall plug-like portions 29 normally engaging into vent openings 39formed in the cover 2| and connecting with tubes 39 which connect withtubes 39. The arrangement is such that when the clamps 26 are tight thenthe plug-like projections 29 engage the vents 39 and tightly seal thetubes 39'.

A handle 32 is mounted upon the top of the cover 2| by which the cover2| may be easily gripped and moved. A partition 33 divides off a topsection of the cover, which is filled with asbestos 34, or other heatinsulation material for preventing the top of the cover from becomingtoo hot. A safety valve 36 and a pressure gauge 31 are mounted on theprojected top ends of the tubes 39 which extend through the cover 2| forcooperation with the pot l6. More particularly the cover 28 of the potI6 is provided with funnel portions 38 which communicate with theinterior of the pot Hi. The tubes 39 of the safety valve 36 and thepressure gauge 31 fit into and tightly engage the funnels 38 when thecover 2|] is correctly positioned on the pot l6 and the cover 2| ismounted upon the container |5.

The interior of the container I is provided with opposed shelves 40 uponwhich clamps 4| are mounted. These clamps 4| are slidable in tracks 42on the shelves 40. The clamps 4| are capable of being clamped in severaladjusted positions. Clamp screws 43 engage through the clamps 4| and arecooperative with series of openings 44 formed upon the shelves 4!]. Theclamps 4| comprise a pair of clamp jaws 45 and 46 which are engageablewith flanges 41 formed on adjacent edge portions of the cover 29 and potl6, see Figs. 5 and 5A. These flanges 41, at one point, are formed withvery small recesses 48 into which small projections 49 on the jaws 45and 46 engage, see Fig. 5A, for correctly securing the cover 2!] uponthe pot l6 so that the funnels 38 will align with the tubes 39.

The opposed edges of the shelves 40 are formed with tracks 50 withinwhich semi-circular slides 5| are slidably mounted. Clamp screws 53 arecooperative with the slides 5| to hold them in extended and retractedpositions. The screws 53 are mounted upon the lowermost members 5| andpass through slots 54 formed in other members 5|. In this way it ispossible to clamp the members 5| in extended or retracted positions. Inextended positions the members 5| are capable of engaging about thesides of the pot I6 for assisting in holding the pot centrally withinthe container I5. In retracted positions the members 5| may engageseveral different sizes and shapes of pots.

A cooler system is associated with the container l5 and the cover 2| bwhich it is possible to cool off the pot l6. This cooler system includesa water coil 55 engaged around the pot IS. The coil 55 has an inlet 56extending out from the side of the container 5 and adapted to beconnected by a water hose with a water faucet or other water supply anda valve controlled outlet 68. A water coil 58 is mounted within thecover 2|. This coil 58 has an inlet 59 extending out from the side ofthe cover 2| and adapted to be connected with a water supply hoseand avalve controlled outlet 59.

A gas burner is provided for heating the pot I6. This gas burner is inthe nature of the usual annular gas burner member 6|. This member BI issupported within the bottom of the container I5 below the partition IT.The gas burner member 6| has the usual inlet 62 for the air-gas mixture.

A gas supply pipe 63 is connected with the inlet 62 in the usual way.The gas pipe 63 extends through the sides of the container l5. A gassupply valve 64 is mounted upon the gas pipe 63 by which the gas may becontrolled. An auxiliary automatic control valve 66 is mounted upon thegas pipe 63 within the container 5. This valve 66 has an operator stem61 which extends upwards through a bushing 68 mounted upon the partitionIT. The top of the stem 6'! is provided with a knob 69 which is engagedby a cam arm 1|]. This cam arm 19 is supported by a pintle upon abracket 12 mounted within the container l5.

The upper end of the cam arm 10 is provided with an offset portion 13which engages the side of a pressure responsive device 14 mounted on andthrough the wall of the pot l6. This pressure responsive device 14 isshown in detail in Fig. 9. It consists of a gland-like body 16 mountedon and throughthe wall of the pot l6. A plunger 11 projects from theouter end of the body it. A loading spring 18 normally urges the plunger11 inwards. The plunger 11 is con-. nected with a piston which slides ina cylin-v der 8| formed within the body 16. The cylinder 8| connectswith a passage 82 which connects with the interior of the pot l6. When apredetermined pressure is reached within the pot IS, the piston 88 willbe moved, compressing the spring 78 so that the plunger 11 is extendedand engages the end 13 of the cam arm Ill pivoting the cam arm andcausing the valve stem 61 to be moved downwards closing the valve 66.This cuts off the gas suppl to the burner member 6|. A contractionspring 86 acts between the cam arm 10 and the container |5 for norma lytending to pivot the cam arm so that the offset end 13 maintains itsposition against the plunger 11.

An electric heating winding 88 is mounted within the bottom of thecontainer l5 below the partition IT. This electric heating winding 88 isconnected in a circuit 89 which includes a manually operable switch 90and an automatic switch 9|. a contact arm 92 mounted upon the cam arm 18and cooperative with a stationary contact arm 93 mounted within thecontainer l5. When the cam arm 10 pivots to close the valve 66 theswitch 9| automatically opens so as to open the electric circuit throughthe heating winding 88. Th bottom of the container I5 is closed with adisc 94. An air inlet tube is mounted through the side of the containerand acts to supply air to the gas burner member 6| between the partitionl1, and the disc 94 to support combustion. The gases resulting fromcombustionrise in the container |5 past the spider-like partition I! andexhaust from the interior of the container |5 through the exhaust ports95', see Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The heating winding 88 also serves as a pilotto light the gas burner 6|. The container l5 has a colored glass window|5 opposite the burner 6| by which itt is possible to see whether or notthe burner is 11 A latch is associated with the cam arm 10 for. lookingit in the position when the gas valve 66.

This automatic switch 9| consists of is closediand the switch 91 aopen.This .l'azt'ch includes 'a tubular gland 96 mounted through the of thecontainer l5. A .stem 93 passes through't-heigland 96. The (outer :endof the stem 9:I has a :handle .98 .by which may be moved. The innerren'd of the stem 9.! is :provided with :a flange 399 :against which anexpansion spring 2100 acts. This spring I00 tends tto urge the .stem .91inward. A .keeper element I'1'0II mounted upon the foam arm I0. Normally.therstem 91 engages against the bottom .iace of thekeeper |0|. However,when the cam arm "I0 pivots to close the valve 66 :and open the switch:9], the stem 9 will move inward and engage the :side of the keeper |0LIlocking the .cam .arm "in its pivoted position, see Fig. 10A.

One of the clamps 26rcontrols a switch I05 connected in series in thecircuit 89. This circuit also includes an indicator lamp I06. The switchI05 is of the type which is normally open. When the screw 2'! of theclamp 26 is turned completely inwards, it forces the switch I05 closed,see Fig. 11. The lamp I06 is mounted upon the cover 2|. A translucentguard I0! is mounted over the lamp I06. The circuit 89 extends from thecover 2| to the container I5 through contacts I08 and I09 on theseparts, respectively, which engage each other when the cover 2| is inposition on the container I5. The contacts I08 of the container I5 arespaced and'the contact 199 in the cover 2| bridges the contacts I08 whenthe cover I5 is in position on the container I5, see Fig. 11A.

The circuit 89 also includes a time switch H0. This time switch has anadjustment knob II I by which it may be set. The time switch H0 controlsthe circuit 89. It is operated by a circuit 2. A shunt connection I I4from the time switch 0 shunts the automatic switch 9|. The time switch II0 may be set to open the circuit 89 after a preselected time. Becauseof the shunt I I4 the circuit 89 may be kept closed by the time switchIIO even though the automatic switch 9| is open, if this operation isdesired.

The operation of the new and improved pressure pot may be understoodfrom the following:

Let u assume that the pot is in the condition as illustrated in Fig. 3.In this condition the gas burner member 6| is being supplied with gasand the flame is heating the spider-like partition I! and the pot I6.Since the switch 9| is closed the electric winding 88 is being suppliedwith electric current for heating the pot I6. When the internal pressurewithin the pot I6 exceed a safe limit the safety valve 36 will act. Thegauge 31 may be examined at any time to ascertain the pressure in thepot I6.

When the internal pressure of the 'pot I6 has reached a predeterminedamount, depending upon the design of the spring I8 in the pressureresponsive device 14, which may be replaced by other devices withsprings of other design, the

plunger 11 will be extended. When the plunger 11 moves outwards itpivots the cam arm I0 causing the valve 66 to be closed and the switch9| to be open. This automatically turns off the supply of current to theheating winding 88 and closes off the supply of gas to the burner member6|. If it is desired to maintain cooking at the desired pressure andtemperature it is merely necessary to release the cam arm I0 bydisengaging stem 91 from keeper IDI, and the spring 86 rotates the camarm to its original position. This closes the switch 9| and suppliescurrent to the heating'coil 8.8. The valve 66 is reopened so that thegas is again supplied to the burner member ""6 which be "ignited by =thew infiiin'g $8. If it is desired to solely use the electric heatingdevice, the main valv 64 of the gas pip 63 is turned off. When theinternal pressure within the pot l6 again-reachesthe'maximum, theplunger I'I will :again .project and :again :the cam arm I0 willfunction to reopen the switch 9|. However, since .it possible to operatethe pressure pot without the gas burner, it is merely a matter of designto so design the electric heating winding '88 that the pressure withinthe pot -|6-will be closely maintained but not reached for apre-determin'ed time. For example, five minutes or'ten minutes dependingupon "design.

When the cover -2-| is mounted upon the 'contain'er 15 and the clamps 26are tightened for holding the cover in position, one of the clamp screws21 will close the switch I05. This closes the circuit 89. The indicatorlamp I06 lights up and indicates this fact. When the circuit 89 isclosed the heating winding 88 becomes energized. It acts as a pilot forlighting the gas burner 6|. The time switch I I0 controls the circuit89. The pressure responsive device I4 makes it possible to maintainselected pressures and temperatures within the pot I6 by pivoting thecam arm I0 against the action of the spring 86 to close the controlvalve 66 of the gas pipe 63. Such pivotal movement of the cam arm I0,under the influence of the pressure responsive device I4, also opens theswitch 9| to open the circuit 89 and de-energize the heating coil 88.

After the food within the pot I6 has been cooked it is necessary to cooloff the cover 2:: and the pot I6. This may be done by opening the supplyof water to the coils 55 and 58. After a short time the clamp screws 2'!are loosened. If there is still internal steam or pressure within thepot I6, this pressure will escape through the vent openings 30 as theclamps 26 become loose. The 'cover 2| may now be safely removed and thenthe pot I9 with its cover 20 may be removed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A gas and electric automatic pressure pot, comprising a container fora pot, a cover for said container, a pot removably mounted in saidcontainer, gas and electric heating means disposed within and supportedby said container, said gas and electric heating means being positionedbelow said pot, said electrical heating means when energized initiatingignition of said gas means, and pressure responsive means connected withsaid pot for rendering said gas and electric means inoperative.

2. A gas and electric automatic pressure pot comprising a container fora pot, a cover for said container, a pot removably mounted in saidcontainer, gas and electric heating means disposed within and supportedby said container, said gas and electric heating means being positionedbelow said pot, said electrical heating means when energized initiatingignition of said gas means, pressure responsive means connected withsaid pot for rendering said gas means inoperative, and manuallyoperative means for restoring the operation of said gas and electricheating means.

IRVING PAGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Re. 864

Name Date Prindle Dec. 13, 1859 Todd Mar. 9, 1886 Booker June 24, 1902Herdrioh Sept. 27, 1901 Fish Apr. 27, 1909 Coles Sept. 28, 1909 NumberNumber Name Date Hettinger July 12, 1921 Saeki Mar. 17, 1925 Demuth May11, 1926 Simpson June 4, 1929 Carroll Nov. 11, 1930 Starr 1- May 5, 1931Rosellini Jan. 2, 1934 Walder Dec. 14, 1937 Swartz Feb. 7, 1939 FOREIGNPATENTS Country Date Sweden Feb. 21', 1933 France Apr. 23, 19141

